Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/878567
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2017 37 AS Halloween approaches, new theatre collective The Shrinking Violets is getting ready to stage a gothic-style horror inspired by the likes of Edgar Allen Poe and Alfred Hitchcock. Ernest and the Pale Moon by Oliver Lansley will be held at Palazzo de la Salle in Valletta on October 27-29 and November 3-5. The spine-chilling show will star Thomas Camilleri, Jo Caruana, Chris Galea and Chiara Hyzler, and is being directed by Denise Mulholland. "Based on a short story by Lans- ley, the play focuses on Ernest Hemel, a man who spends his days watching the beautiful young woman who lives in the apartment block opposite," Mulholland said. "Upon seeing her with another man, he is thrown into a jealous rage which appears to have cata- strophic consequences – although all may not be what it first seems..." Ernest and the Pale Moon is be- ing produced by The Shrinking Violets, a new theatre collective led by Maria Buckle, Jo Caruana, Chiara Hyzler, Cathy Lawlor and Denise Mulholland. The collective is primarily focused on creating dynamic, collaborative work in co- operation with other artists from Malta and beyond. "We chose Ernest and the Pale Moon as our first piece because it has given us plenty of scope for collaboration, with artists includ- ing Luke Saydon, who has writ- ten the original score, and Moritz Zavan Stoeckle and Late Interac- tive who have created the lighting design and concept," Mulholland added. "We hope that this script – which was first staged at the Ed- inburgh Fringe Festival in 2009 to great acclaim – will provide the first of many opportunities for us to highlight the wonderful talent that exists within Malta's dynamic artistic pool." Tickets for Ernest and the Pale Moon are available online at www. ticketline.com.mt. Opening night tickets are priced at €15, with all other performances at €20 DESPITE a number of controver- sies in the run up to Valletta 2018, Malta's capital city is bound to face its biggest challenge to date: a nest of singing, mischievous and cunning mice. Rumour has it that a new car park under Valletta is in the pipe- line and all creatures need to re- locate. The mice representatives for the Manoel Theatre, the Law Courts, the National Library and the St John Cathedral are at loss. Where are they going now? Who deserves the best spaces? And, most importantly, which mouse has the right to decide for the greater good? Add some echoes of popular culture to the story and the secret passages beneath the streets of Valletta become an ideal setting for Qatta Ġrieden, a spectacle of music, satire and comedy. New theatre company Xenati Teatrali has secured a solid cast for their first production. The mice are played by Clive Piscopo, Charles Sammut, Christine Fran- calanza, Alison Abela, Gilbert For- mosa, Jamie Cardona, Renato Di- mech and Justin Galea. Music by Duo Kukkanja is in the able hands of Justin Galea. "Qatta Ġrieden promises to be a great night out at the theatre for all generations," director Gilbert For- mosa said. "There's satire, there are funny moments that have the actors in stitches and, most of all, there's also the possibility that the world of mice we are portraying is not as innocent as it seems. Apart from that, it is really exciting to rehearse with such a fantastic cast. The audience will love them!" Directed by Gilbert Formosa and written by Anna Pullicino, Qatta Ġrieden is for children who believe that mice can talk and for adults who are well aware that these mice are too close for com- fort. Qatta Ġrieden is commissioned by Notte Bianca and will take place on September 29 and 30 and October 1 at 19:30 at Sala San Duminku, Merchants Street, Valletta (beneath St Domenic's Church). Bookings: www.activemalta.com Gothic horror in the heart of Valletta Are all mice equal? The Shrinking Violets stage acclaimed 'fringe' production Ernest and the Pale Moon just in time for Halloween Presented by new company Xenati Teatrali, Qatta Grieden is a kid-friendly production with a satirical bite Jo Caruana in Ernest and the Pale Moon This Week